Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Stakeholder Event 2019 - Presentation - What works for a quality native woodland - Anna Lawrence

Woodland Achieving the Biodiversity Strategy targets Anna Lawrence, University of the Highlands and Islands The woodland targets: One is ‘on track’ • 3,000 to 5,000 new native woodland created per year Two targets showing ‘insufficient progress’ are: • Increase the amount of native woodland in good condition (upwards of 46% as identified in the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland) • Restore approximately 10,000 of native woodland into satisfactory condition in partnership with private woodland owners through deer management plans New native woodland Good condition Deer management Public cost of deer fencing: > £10 million / yr Some comments “In Scotland deer densities are 10-100 higher than Europe and so trees can only grow behind foot high deer fences.” ”The system is broken … I can’t think of a single example of a functioning Deer Management Group” “Making deer management statutory rather than voluntary and setting cull targets in the public rather than private interest would reduce grazing and increase woodland on a massive scale.” • A specific target deer density has not been set Instead culls will be adjusted in line with monitoring information to achieve the above objectives [JMT management plan for L&CD] Questions • How we get more genuine commitment to new native woodland? • What would make a step change difference in implementing deer management plans? Getting there • Ownership • Partnership • Drastic deer reduction (not just fences) • Money for control of invasives • Motivated and inspired volunteers • Regulation, grants, advice Images from (via the internet in many cases): • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_shelter • http://www.carrifran.org.uk/gallery/ • https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/ - Chris Goodman • Alec Dauncey • Alan Watson Featherstone • Cameron McNeish – from his blog • Mark Hamblin/scotlandbigpicture.com • SNH • Myself ... condition (upwards of 46% as identified in the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland) • Restore approximately 10,000 of native woodland into satisfactory condition in partnership with private woodland owners... statutory rather than voluntary and setting cull targets in the public rather than private interest would reduce grazing and increase woodland on a massive scale.” • A specific target deer density has...The woodland targets: One is ‘on track’ • 3,000 to 5,000 new native woodland created per year Two targets showing ‘insufficient progress’ are: • Increase the amount of native woodland in good